Margaret Curry
The Space In-Between
Laurie Beechman Theatre, NYC, November 30, 2023
Reviewed by Bart Greenberg
Photo: Caroline White
Taking the stage with confidence and style, Margaret Curry showed no signs that this was her return to the cabaret world following a 20-year absence. The Space In-Between was the vehicle for her most welcome return; it offered a mix of songs and sensational stories told in between them (where, she assured the audience, “the good stuff comes from”). Backed by thr terrific team of class-A director Lina Koutrakos, music director/arranger Gregory Toroian, bassist Skip Ward, and drummer David Silliman, the show was as polished as possible. Although some of the transitions between song and spoken word were less than smooth, which led to some pacing problems, overall it was a most enjoyable evening.
Curry had a varied and intriguing song list, and she approached each number with a surprising approach and personalizing her selections with her stories. She started her show with a striking “Day In, Day Out,” that was launched with just drums, foreshadowing the excitement to come. Then she became bewitched by the melody of “Something’s Gotta Give.” Wonderfully told tales of her life in Texas led to lesser-known numbers “Black Water” (Patrick Simmons) and “Ain’t Nobody” (David “Hawk” Wolinski), which her delivery made intensely personal. Sweet memories of her parents preceded a haunting, almost torchy “Let’s Face the Music and Dance.” This was followed by a major change of pace with “Down with Love,” beautifully acted and sardonically delivered. Shifting gears again, she came close to channeling Elvis Presley as she rocked Jimmy Webb’s “Elvis and Me” and followed it with a sultry “Blue Bayou.”
Then for something even more different, Curry displayed a fine comic flair with William Bolcom’s “Lime Jell-O Marshmallow Cottage Cheese Surprise” and, staying in the culinary vein, with David Frishberg’s “Let’s Eat Home.” A fascinating song with a definite point of view was “The Ballad of Robin & Marian” (Michele Brouman). It was paired with Susan Werner’s “The Last Words of Bonnie Parker” to tremendous effect—very smart cabaret planning indeed. In fact the entire evening was conceived with genuine intelligence. Hopefully, Curry won’t keep us waiting another two decades for her next show.
